I have a Saito .82 with APC 14 x 4W prop on my Twist. It will fly fairly flat spins and even climb slowly on most occassions; I have to catch something just right, ailerons I suspect. Here is how I enter a climbing inverted spin: set elevator and rudder for maximum throw on high rate, fly inverted into the wind, slow the plane down to stall speed, give the plane full power and full down elevator suddenly and at the same time, just as the plane pitches back to inverted flight give it full right rudder, then start maneuvering the ailerons a little left or right to get the type of spin you want. Also use less than full elevator, rudder, and\or power after entering the spin and the spin will look much different. Max throw is necessary to help ensure the wing stalls; no stall, no true spin. Recovery is easy, just return all controls to neutral and select low rate on elevator. If you don't select low rate elevator, at least use it judiously to prevent a secondary stall. My Topcap started to do flat spins exceptionally well once I changed the engine to get more power. On the other hand my Fazer which is exceptionally over-powered (Jett .76) won't spin well at all. My point being I am sure that a number of variables affect how well a plane will spin - or not spin.

The same spin you mention is used in the blenders I do. Go high, and head straight for the ground with left aileron. Pull both sticks to the lower inside (Full right rudder, no throttle, full left aileron, full down elevator) Feed in power, and less elevator, and adjust ailerons for a flat hanging spin. They make for an impressive manuever.

Thanks combat, I will print this out and study your instructions and try it out next time at the field. Can you make yours waterfall/tumble?

I found that the low rate elevator setting in the manual with high rate rudder and high rate aileron. I start with a full up stall (wings level & don’t use the ailerons to start the spin) use only full rudder and full low rate elevator and let it spin 3 times and start feeding in opposite aileron and some down elevator. If you feed this in to fast it will Twist out. This works at CG 4.5 to 5.0. I have problems landing it too at CG 5.0 but I try to bring it in slow & level pass low and drop the throttle the rest of the way before it goes nose high. At CG 5.0 it flies better but you can’t land it unless you do Harriers to bring it down. I keep breaking wood props, I wish the landing gear was longer.

3dsky,
I suggest your answer for a better landing gear is the gear sold by DuBro. They are made of something like reinforced nylon, are extremely durable, and provide about 1 1\4 inches more ground clearance. I installed a set on my Twist several weeks ago and couldn't be more pleased. I installed the new gear by drilling-out the old mounting holes to 1\4 inch, glued in short pieces of 1\4 inch dowel, aligned the gear and drilled new holes for 1\4-20 nylon bolts. Just last weekend the aileron control stick on my TX started sticking, as in it would not return to center\neutral. Result was a rough landing that simply sheared the nylon bolts. I am sure the alum gear would have been bent well out of shape.

armpit, thanks!

Yeah, the tailwheel is steerable. I used a Sullivan tailwheel assemble instead of the stock one. It mounts to the fuselage instead of the rudder. This takes the force of a rough landing or grass field off of the rudder and onto the fuse. I recommend it along with lots of other Twist owners. Some people use nothing but the Sullivans in all their models. I will also in the future!

more pics

For you guys trying to figure out how to do waterfalls with your Twist, I have an elevator to aileron mix set up in my radio (ailerons set up as flaperons) so my ailerons move in the opposite direction of the elevator when on high rates. My Twist will do a forward loop all the way around and pull into a hover without losing hardly any altitude. Forward loops at 12 to 15 feet don't come close to the ground at all. Give it a try - you won't believe the added maneuverability.

Pulling off waterfalls is then just a matter of throttle management to get it to look good.

I have tried the waterfalls many times! Thanks for the tip I will try it. Lately I have been calling them FREE FALLS almost looks like I know what I am doing with the Twist!

I'm using a Hitec Flash 5SX radio and the flaperon feature is fixed, just flip a switch and get a set percentage, no actual mixing with elevator input... So, how much do you waterfall guys think I should put in when I start experimenting with this, hopefully this weekend!?

And also what kinda throws do you have with the surfaces? Equal to the manual's 3D rates, more??

Let me know if you figure it out on the Flash 5 cause that's what I'm using. I don't know how to do that kinda stuff with it![]

Well, I guess you do get what you pay for and while the Flash 5 has some nice features it really is a bare bones computer radio. The dual rates and expo functions share the same switches so having low rates and 3d rates with expo is not really possible. the flaperon feature is kinda nice, it has two programmable settings that are separate completely but they are not real mixes I guess as you flip a switch and they just move a programmed amount without varying with another input that you control.

I guess I just need to save up for a Futaba 9CAP!I dunno if the Eclipse has all the neato features but I've found that within 6 months I am wanting much more out of my radio... BTW here's a link to the Flash 5 thread I started in the Hitec forum about the expo d/r prob, if you're interested...

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_20...tm.htm#2016415

Anyway, I hope to get to experiment this weekend with it and I'll report back any findings... just got some gas and a couple props to replace those uhh, customized ones I made so I'm set...

Ha Ha....cutomized props huh??? I just swapped out the prop I customized yesterday! I bit the tip on my APC 12.25x3.75 on a harrier landing. I guess that's not too bad because I've been flying with this same prop for 2 gallons!!! I put on a APC 11.5x4 to try out next time. Now I'm running 15% Cool Power so I will report if it flies any differently with that prop. I can't imagine it getting any better than the other one though.

I will check out your Hitec thread and see what info I can dig out of there. I will pass it along to my Dad, brothers, and friends cause we all fly the Flash. I know what you're talking about when saying about not having ALL the features available seperately....that kinda sucks! [:@]

Like you said....saving up for a better one now![8D]

Sorry, I don't have any experience with HiTec radios so I can't offer any specific information. I use a Futaba 6XAS computer radio and it features a couple custom mix settings that allow you to enter anything you want. It is simply a matter of telling the radio what the primary channel is (in this case elevator) and the secondary (the one affected by the movement of the primary - in this case the main aileron channel) and then set the mix percentage that you want. On Futaba radios you can choose a negative or posative percentage which determines if the mix causes the surfaces to move in the same direction or in opposite directions when the primary channel is moved. I guess the baseline requirement for your radio to be able to do this is you need to first be able to set up for flaperons and second, some way to add a custom mix.

Yes, the 9C should work nicely for this but there are cheaper radios out there with the same capabilities. The new 7C from Futaba should work (as well as the 6XAS) and although I haven't used any of the JR 6 channel radios I know they are fairly comparable to the units from Futaba so I would think you should be fine with a JR 6 channel (or more) computer radio as well.

Hello all
My wife[sm=lol.gif] wanted one of these for her second airplane after a trainer. I figure that on very very low rates she should be OK to start with. She did most of the assembly, I did some work here and there when she got stuck.
My question is. How much weight is needed to balance this airplane? It has standard servos on all control surfaces and an OS .46 on the front for power. It took 1.5 oz to balance the plane at the 5 inch mark. At the 4.5 inch point I had about 6 oz on the front and it still would not balance. I moved everything as far forward a I could. Sure not much room to play that way on this airplane[].
This does look like a fun inexpense plane to play around with. If my wife decides she does not want it. I have no problem taking it from her. Even though she put Bubbles, one of the Power Puff Girls in for a pilot (she robbed our daughters toy box)[X(].

trogdor:

I have used the Flash 5 for ailerons mixed with elevators as described by FlyerBry on a couple of fun fly airplanes. I don't remember exactly how it is done now, but I know you need to be in the "glidacro" menu. From there I figured it out from the book.

Jim

I didn't add any weight to mine to balance at 4.5" and I have a .46 on the nose. You can try a weighted prop nut...that will put what weight you have to add as far forward as possible. Is your battery and receiver right up against the tank? I've heard of some people putting the battery up with the tank.

Mine too measured at 4.5" with no weights, right in the middle of the range. It amazes me that some people have to add weight to get the CG forward. Now I have the battery back behind the throttle servo to get me to 5", and I need more rearward CG. With the right control throws, the plane would be easy to fly at 4.5", but better yet near 4". I wouldn't doubt I'll end up at 5.5" before I'm done for 3D fun.

Here is what I did

I put the battery above the fuel tank. moved the engine out 1/4 inch from what the book calls for, added 3 OZ of weight under the fuel tank and I balance right at 4 1/2 inch. You could replace the 3OZ with a heavy hub/spinner but I feel that adding that mass to the engine will increase the time it takes for the prop to spin up and I want the quickest engine response I can get to pull myself out of the stupid things I may do.

I use an OS .46AX with an APC 11x5 prop for now. Eventually I will change the prop to the APC 12.25X3.75

I started out with the book low rates set for high rates and then cut them to 75% on the low rates and on the next flight after trimming I went with the book throws on both low and high rates. This was after flying my LT-40 Kadet for around 30 flights and a SIG 4 Star 40 for about 6 flights.

I find this plane a blast to fly and lands just as well as my LT-40 did with the CG at 4 1/2 inches. The 11X5 prop with help slow the plane until she gets used to it. It took no aileron trim and just 4 clicks of down elevator with 1/2 throttle. I can lift the thing off the ground in about 10 feet if I want but I have no right thrust built in so I need to give it rudder and aileron to keep it from rolling left or tip stalling.

A heavier engine would elminate the need for lead though. The recommended engine (EVO 46NT) is lighter that the OS46AX which would account for some o the weight difference between what you need and what I need.

OK, so there I was, Step #1 assemble wing to Fuselage.

The wing hole is miss drilled and the Fuselage blind nut is installed cockeyed.

OK, Call Horizon, talked to Steve. Steve says We have the replacment parts I'll send them out today. I have to send in my old parts. OK, no problem.

5 days later Fuselage arives... No wing... invoice says Wing is backordered. ARG(#1)

I call and talk to Randy, randy says "opps sorry but Steve was wrong" The wings are do in Friday. (Today is Tuesday)

I send my stuff back to them in the original box.

2 weeks later. I call "Hey where's my wing?" Now I am talking to the service manager. "It still hasn't arrived yet, And we don't have any kits in our system to take one out of." So I tell him the whole story...... (this is where it gets good) Then he pulls this one "We do have some spare kits in the back for just such ocations as this. I can pull a wing out of one of those and send it." I say "fine", please rush it to me.

Today, wing arrives, WooHoo, I open it all up to find that the Wing is damaged. The leading edge sheeting (Balsa) is crushed between spars 2 and 3. No damage on the outside of the box and the wing was well packed.

Of course it's to late to call Horizon 4:30 mountian. They close at 5 Central. Now I have to wait till Monday just to talk to some one and get more runaround. Not to mention they will most likly make me send this one back to them too. ARG!

People, I hate this plane already. Please tell me it's worth the wait.

Oh, Yes I could fix it myself but that's not the point. I bought it new and I want it that way when I assemble it.

OK, For those of you who think I'm whinning, you are right. But I want everyone to know what I am going through with this plane. Make sure you are sure these issues I am having don't effect your plane. Look it over real good. You don't want to have to go through this.

Jim, oh ya I got the flaperon function working it just isnt really like a mix where the more elevator you give the more spoileron it gives... its just like a retrim on ailerons and elevator, set positions they change to when you flip the switch. I think that its really meant for gliders and maybe it should be called something else but oh well, ill experiment...

Furyicon, that all really sucks... However, as I get older (32 now... jeez, what will I be like at 60?!?!) I realize you sometimes win and sometimes lose and as long as you dont lose big dont sweat it, it'll only cause stress and early death... hhaha Well, I had a broken rib and my last extra special harrier rolling into the ground landing squashed the gear and broke that rib more... oh well, everything around it still seems strong and its not totalled so I'll not worry about it for now.

(Maybe that's inexperience talking!

But oh ya, this thing seems like it does need some tuning to fly well but from what I've done so far I've really had fun, it hovers very well and harriers pretty easy too without a lot of wing rocking... of course all that may just be luck in exactly the throws and settings/balance I'm using today in this humidity but I really think after a few more serious tuning flights it will be great... I just need to be serious and tune, not just fly crazy all over the field because I can!

Sorry to hear about your bad luck with the Twist. Try to calm down and when you get all the stuff (unbroken) put it all together and give it a fair chance. I think you will give a big sigh of relief when you're flying that thing finally!

Your case has got to be the worst I've heard of so far. But just to let you know....you better have some longer control rods handy when you assemble it or you will have another headache!

Good luck to you from here on out....and stay in touch with your happenins!

ghee

Believe me just typing out he story helped calm me down. I am 38 and just don't have patience for this kind of service. I understand one mistake but this many in a row just gets to be to many. I often think that sometimes I get this just to test me. But who knows, THanks for the kind words. Like I said I hope this thing flies better than the Quality department of Horizon does their job.

Just keeping the thread going. I still like my twist with the os 46fx. I can't do any 3d to amount to anything. Trying to learn to hover it at altitude. I like it because you can get out of trouble with the throttle most of the time. Either giving more or less. Landings are easy and slow. thats how I like em. I landed in some taller grass and nicked my prop. Had to put on a 11X6. I don't like it as well as the 12X3.75. I've only run about a gallon through it.

I am new to this, so forgive the simple questions. I am having trouble installing the stabilizer. I have trimmed the covering away to expose the wood, but now I can't slide the stab back into place. The edges of the coating are grabbing as I slide it in. I am stuck until some kind individual assists me through this.

I have read through this thread & still can't decide what kind of motor to buy. I really don't want to spend much, so definately a 2-stroke. Thinking the Mag XLS .52A or the OS-AX .46. Not at all stuck on either of these, so all info helps.

Thanks in advance!